The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service treatment records and inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.
The deciding factor: The Board found deficiencies in the April 2016 VA examination, particularly in considering the Veteran's lay statements about an in-service back injury and the STRs that reflect low back strain during service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19180706
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the appeal for further development, including verification of periods of service and obtaining additional medical opinions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected orthopedic conditions are being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of these disabilities.
- Granted
The veteran's degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine was granted a 40 percent rating, effective June 21, 2004.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.